Restructuring is upon us!

Questions, comments, confusion follow in FCC's wake

Questions,
comments, and some confusion have been the order of the day since the FCC
finally dropped the other shoe on Amateur Radio restructuring on December
30. The FCC's momentous action -- reducing the number of license classes
to three and establishing 5 WPM as the sole Morse code examination element
-- has, at least for now, polarized the Amateur Radio community. It also
promises to change the complexion of Amateur Radio as it enters the new
millennium.

More
than half of those responding to an informal poll on the ARRL Web site
indicate they plan to upgrade during 2000. Demand for study materials in
the past week suggests many amateurs will be hitting the books in the coming
weeks.

After
April 15, 2000, the FCC will only issue Technician, General, and Amateur
Extra class licenses. Novice and Advanced licensees will retain current
operating privileges and may renew indefinitely. The FCC's new licensing
scheme simplifies and shortens the upgrade path from the ground floor through
Amateur Extra. Applicants will only have to pass one Morse code test, and
there are fewer written examinations and total questions.

"This
is the best news I have heard since bread and butter!" exclaimed Jimmy
Stewart, WD9FHY, who said he's been trying unsuccessfully for years to
boost his code proficiency. On the other side were some who asserted that
the revised requirements would contribute to a further decline of Amateur
Radio and open the doors to "riff-raff."

The
ARRL Board of Directors is expected to review the FCC Report and Order
and discuss its implications when it meets January 21-22 in Memphis.

In
a significant step, the FCC has left it in the hands of the National Conference
of VECs Question Pool Committee to determine the specific mix and makeup
of written examination questions. Current Amateur Radio study materials
remain valid at least until the new rules become effective in April.

The
nation's Volunteer Examiner Coordinators, including the ARRL-VEC, now are
under the gun to meet the plan's April 15 implementation date. "The Question
Pool Committee has been meeting by telephone and e-mail to get the updating
process under way," said ARRL-VEC Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ. "It's anticipated
that the QPC will put out a news release soon that indicates when the updated
question pools will be available to the public." Jahnke said the revised
question pools will be out "well in advance" of April 15.

No
one loses any privileges under the FCC's new plan, and, with one limited
exception, no licensee is in a position to automatically gain any privileges
when April 15 rolls around. The FCC's action establishes the Technician
license -- with or without Morse code credit -- as the entry-level ticket
to Amateur Radio. Technician applicants passing the 5 WPM Morse code exam
will gain current Tech Plus HF privileges. The current "no-code" Tech license
will continue to be available. Technician applicants opting to not take
the code test will gain current Technician VHF/UHF privileges. After April
15, 2000, the FCC will lump Technician and Technician Plus licensees into
a single "Technician" database. Despite the name change, current Tech Plus
licensees won't lose any privileges.

Similarly,
current General and Amateur Extra class holders will continue to enjoy
their current privileges. The FCC took no action to reallocate any amateur
bands.

The
new licensing regime has four examination elements: Element 1, the 5 WPM
Morse code test; Element 2, a 35-question Technician test; Element 3, a
35-question General test, and Element 4, a 50-question Amateur Extra test.
The new Amateur Extra test is expected to combine the important elements
of the current Advanced and Amateur Extra examinations. Only minor changes
are anticipated in the new General class examination. The new Technician
exam likely will include some questions on HF operating from the current
Novice test.

The
new licensing plan created a lone and limited upgrade for those who held
a Technician license or a Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination
(CSCE) before March 21, 1987. Those individuals may claim credit for a
new General class license. This is because there was a single Technician-General
written test under the old system; only the code tests differed. The upgrade
is not automatic, however. Affected individuals will have to apply through
a Volunteer Examiner test session, complete Form 605, attach documentary
proof of having completed the requirements for a Technician license prior
to March 21, 1987, and pay an application fee, if any, to the VEC.

Judging
from the questions coming into ARRL HQ, many hams want to know whether
to upgrade now or wait for the new system. If you're either a Tech Plus
or an Advanced licensee, there might be an advantage to taking an exam
now. The FCC has told the League that current Tech Plus licensees holding
a valid CSCE for Element 3B may apply for a General class upgrade when
the new rules become effective. Likewise, current Advanced licensees holding
a valid CSCE for Element 4B may apply for an Amateur Extra class upgrade
under the new system. To be valid on April 15, 2000, any such CSCE will
have to be dated on or after April 17, 1999. A CSCE is only good for 365
days. CSCE holders must attend a Volunteer Examiner session, complete Form
605, attach a valid CSCE, and pay any required application fee ($6.65 for
the ARRL- VEC).

The
reduced Morse code requirement hit a nerve with some hams who felt it "devalued"
their upper-class licenses. Others, however, felt it minimized an unnecessary
obstacle. The FCC said it believes a demonstration of Morse proficiency
does not necessarily indicate an individual's "ability to contribute to
the advancement of the radio art," as the FCC put it. The Commission also
said it was not convinced that Morse proficiency had any particular value
to emergency preparedness.

The
reduction in the Morse code requirement was not entirely unexpected. Several
other countries already have lowered their Morse code examination requirements,
and some observers believe the Morse requirement will disappear altogether
once it's eliminated in the international Radio Regulations. The FCC said
it opted for the "least burdensome requirement" as its sole Morse standard.
While the 13 and 20 WPM code tests soon will be history, the FCC said that
"provisions must remain in place for accommodating individuals with severe
disabilities."

The
Morse code issue is expected to be on the agenda of a future World Radiocommunication
Conference. The FCC said it would not automatically "sunset" the Morse
code requirement even if Morse code is eliminated from the international
radio regulations.

Would
you be interested in a short class on upgrading to General class?? I have
been speaking with some great instructors about this and they are receptive
to the idea.

I
didn't know whether "the egg came before the chicken" or what in regards
to where to start on this. Do I speak with the proposed instructors first
or find if there is even enough interest in said class to warrant it??
Since I decided to speak with the instructors first, the question to all
of you is: WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN SUCH A CLASS IF IT WAS OFFERED??
If you are interested, please let me know so that I can continue working
on this.

In
order to use the current test question pool, we would have to take the
test before April 15th, 2000 (tax day). After that date the test will be
35 questions rather than the current 30, and you would have to see the
latest test question pool, effective April 15th, 2000.

I
hope there is sufficient interest out there to warrant the class, as I
think it would be very helpful.

I
look forward to hearing from many of you soon. You can reach me at 360-352-2514
or e-mail me at:

I
feel privileged in being able to announce my acceptance of the Amateur
Satellite Corporation's offer to act as their AMSAT Area Coordinator. The
AMSAT Corporation is a non-profit operation, and is an International, world-wide
organization comprised of members of many countries.

I've
worked on the Phase 3-D satellite at the AMSAT Integration Lab in Orlando,
FL. This satellite will launch in the next several months. That experience
really and firmly launched my interest in satellites, and their communication
potential.

The
primary role and function of an area coordinator is to direct and supply
information about the satellites, AMSAT's programs and services, and other
activities. As an area coordinator, I will have access to some very large
and valuable data bases, resources, and other educational materials --
all available merely for the asking.

I
will be available for talks, demonstrations of equipment, and to serve
as a source for information. I'm looking forward to helping and working
with the amateur community as the "Ambassador of AMSAT;" AMSAT's Area Coordinator.

I
can be reached via e-mail at kf6gaq@amsat.org
and through the US Postal service at PO BOX 8721, OLYMPIA, WA, 98509-8721,USA.

Ham
radio operators will be able to collect data transmitted by a satellite
instrument payload scheduled for launch in December.

The
radio buffs will "give us a backup of people getting data for us," says
Fred Berry, NASA's project manager for the Plasma Experiment Satellite
Test (PEST), which will collect data about auroras and particle streams
in the upper atmosphere. Moreover, says Berry, the radio enthusiasts will
find the project interesting, because the atmospheric phenomena under study
tend to interfere with radio communications.

NASA
will announce instructions for radio users to send their data for use by
the PEST team.

PEST
is attached to the Joint Air Force-Weber State University Satellite (JAWSAT),
which is scheduled for launch on December 2 or later. The data will be
broadcast on the frequencies 437.175 MHz or 2403.2 MHz, and will be available
to radio operators using a G3RUH or GMSK modem.

Reminder:
pay your dues now!

All OARS renewals come up in January of each
year — help revive the sagging bank balances by sending in your check now,
while you think of it. A renewal form can be found on the mailing wrapper
of this newsletter.

This
appeared in the September 1999 edition of the RAGS Review, the newsletter
of the Radio Amateurs of Greater Syracuse, Nita Soper, WB2HGO Editor.

Most
mobile radios are so complicated that they are nearly impossible to operate
while the user is involved with the important task of safely (?) driving
a car. This is a result of two radio characteristics that are highly desirable
to hams whom are shopping for what they believe to be the best mobile radio:
(1) many features, also known as bells and whistles, and (2) small size,
so the rig will fit in today's smaller automobiles.

To
accomplish this, the designers know that they must keep the numbers of
space-occupying pushbuttons to a minimum, and that means that each button
must control multiple functions. This is done two ways (although occasionally
a third technique is used that I shall mention later). Whether the button
is held for a short time (momentarily) for a long time ( about one second
) will allow a single button to activate 2 different operations. Another
technique is to use a "Function" button. If this function button is pressed
immediately preceding the pushing of the operation button, the operation
will be changed and an alternate use of this operation button will occur.

Now
imagine yourself driving in traffic and attempting to change the frequency
offset from plus to minus. Even if you do remember which is the correct
button that will perform this operation, will you recall if you should
press it momentarily or for a full second, or must it follow the function
key or be used without the function key? If you have been keeping score,
you will realize that each operation button can do up to four operations.
Can you remember which is which? Not me.

But
it can be even more confusing than this, because what I have not told you
yet is that the function key can select multiple features depending on
whether you press it momentarily or for a full second. This means that
a single operation button can control up to 6 operations. Obviously there
is not enough space on a button to label the 6 different uses for that
one tiny key. So they do not label it, and it is up to you, the user, to
either memorize them (good luck) or to read the manual each time (I thought
you were driving the car). Bu wait, it gets worse.

A
dual-band rig will have about twice as many features to control as a one-band
radio, but size is still important, so they sure can't double the number
of keys. What do they do? They require the user to activate additional
functions by holding various buttons as he powers up (turns on) the radio.
Of course this means that you must first turn off the radio. So now each
button can control up to 7 features. Don't forget to look at the road every
once in a while because remember, you're driving. People who buy these
mobile radios end up feeling that they are stupid. I bet even the average
genius (is there such a thing as average genius?) can not handle one of
these things and drive a car simultaneously.

We
think we want a do-everything radio, but maybe we really don't. There are
many fancy features that the average ham can live without and still be
very happy. Do you really need the feature that checks every 15 seconds
to see if your friend who owns a radio like yours is nearby and warns you
with a beep if he is out of range? Do you need the function that puts out
a ultrasonic sound to repel mosquitoes? Or a loud alarm to fend off attackers?
Or the pager-beep sound? Or the squelch that can only be opened by the
correct tone? These things sell radios but most owners never use them.

Someday,
sit down with your do-everything radio (or its operating manual) and make
a list of the minimum features that a mobile radio would have to have to
satisfy you. The emphasis here is on minimum. The smaller the number, the
less complex the radio would be and the easier it will be to operate. The
price will be lower too. I'll get you started.

I
would like to see a very big readout with numbers that can be read so easily
that I would only have to take my eyes off of the road for a fraction of
a second to see it. This may mean a larger size radio but I can live with
that. I want at least 50 watts on high power with lower power levels select
able. Direct frequency entry from a tone pad located on the microphone.
At least 100 memories. Public service band receive. PL-tone transmit. Squelch
and volume adjusted with standard rotary knobs. Real S-meter. Repeater
input/output reverse switch. Memory scan -- I can get by without full frequency
band scan.

I
think you get the idea. We tend to buy radios that are so complicated and
confusing that they make us feel stupid, discouraged, and inadequate. What
is really needed by a ham who must operate his radio and his automobile
simultaneously is a very basic, easy to see, easy to operate radio. If
we would buy them, they would make them. But we don't always do what is
good for us. And we don't always buy what we really want.

As
the new year gets under way, FCC Special Counsel for Amateur Radio Enforcement
Riley Hollingsworth hinted he might have to break bad on hard-core offenders
this year. He explained that poor or lax FCC enforcement in the past led
him to be more forgiving of rulebreakers during his first full calendar
year in the enforcement chair. Now, those who persist in operating outside
of the stated basis and purpose of Amateur Radio "are beginning to try
our patience," he said. "I can't say we're going to be as compassionate
this year."

Hollingsworth
said he expected to continue his focus on incursions into the 10-meter
band by unlicensed operators, especially as propagation gets better, and
on equipment certification issues. "We're very concerned about the illegal
equipment we see for sale at hamfests," he explained.

Overall,
however, malicious interference remains "the basic problem," as he put
it. "We're going to use the High-Frequency Direction Finding Center at
Laurel [Maryland] more this year" to track down rulebreakers, he said.
In addition, Hollingsworth now has enhanced monitoring tools at his Gettysburg
office, allowing him access to the HFDF Center's 14 antenna fields plus
VHF-UHF "pods" that can be moved around as necessary. "We have dial-in
capabilities to all of our antenna fields and to the pods, so we can cover
HF, UHF, and VHF anywhere in the country, right here from the Gettysburg
office," he explained.

"It's
a force multiplier, so to speak," Hollingsworth said of the new capabilities.

Hollingsworth
also says he's upbeat about the future of ham radio and the FCC's Amateur
Radio restructuring plan announced December 30. "I'm really optimistic
about it," he said this week. "I think that it's a good idea to simplify
things a little bit as far as the number of license classes," he added,
referring to the new three-tiered system.

Hollingsworth
said he believes Amateur Radio needs more young blood to keep it going
in the future, and he thinks the new licensing system that becomes effective
April 15 might help in that regard. He declined, however, to comment further
on the specific policies and rules the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau laid down in its Report and Order, saying it would not be appropriate.